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'Commonsense' fix urged for dialysis dilemma

Aboriginal groups say the Northern Territory and South Australian governments are refusing to take responsibility for the critical shortage of dialysis places in Alice Springs.

New renal patients from South Australia's far north are unable to access dialysis in Alice Springs but new patients from Western Australia have been allowed to since the end of last year.

The South Australian Health Minister says the NT is discriminating against patients from his state but the NT says it is still negotiating an agreement to take more patients.

NPY Women's Council spokeswoman Andrea Mason says people in remote communities are suffering.

"It's a situation where the South Australian Health Minister needs to make a decision based on compassion and commonsense to provide funding for South Australian residents to have access to those renal facilities in Alice Springs," she said.